Collapsible automobile roof



July 8, 1941. G. LIEBLER COLLAPSIBLE AUTOMOBILE ROOF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Fil ed Aug. 26, 1940 j 'yz GEORGE 4/ E84 ER Juli: 8, 1941. e. LIEBLER2,248,538 I COLLAPS IBLE AUTOMOBILE ROOF Fi led Aug. 26, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 73 i I 7J glwuvwm GEORGE l/EBL 5 la te nieel July 8, i941UNITED STATES 3"Claims.

This invention relates to a collapsible automobile roof, and has for oneof its objects the production of a simple and efiicient means for movingthe roof to and from a collapsed position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means whereby aportion of the collapsible roof may be separated from the main portionthereof to allow free vision through the rear window of the automobileupon which the mechanism is carried.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appearthroughout the followin specification and claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top'plan view, certain parts being brokenaway; 7

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the body of anautomobile, certain parts being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 isa fragmentary top plan view of a portion of an automobiletop, certain parts being shown in horizontal section;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the forwardportion of the car roof showing the means for locking the collapsibleportion in place; I

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken through the rear portion ofthe automobile in front of the hinged roof guides or tracks;

Figure-l0 is a fragmentary plan view of the slatted top, showing themeans for connecting the sections together;

Figure 10. is a perspective view of one of the pivoted wedges, shown inFigure 10 Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the latch for engagingthe slats to prevent the slatsfrom dropping below the top of the trunk;and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that In designates anautomobile which is provided with an enlarged opening II in the topthereof. A channel I2 is formed under the top adjacent the side edges ofthe opening H, as shown in Figure 6, and a plurality of rollers I3 aremounted in this channel l2, as also shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

A collapsible top is slidably mounted within the topof the automobilel0, and this collapsible top comprises a plurality of slats l4 extendingtransversely of the top of the automobile l0 and the slats are adaptedtoclosethe opening H. A suitable fabric or other covering I5 is carried bythe slats I4, as shown in Figure 5, the slats preferably projectingbeyond the edge l6 of the covering l5, as shown in Figure 5. Each slatI4 is provided wth a notch l! at the encl'thereof at a pointapproximately overhanging the rollers l3 for the purposehereinafterdescribed. I preferably provide a locking memberl8 similar toa window latch at the forward end ll] of the automobile top whichengages a keeper l9 carried by the forward slat I4. The slats 14 mayalso be provided with an inner lining l5 if de'e sired, as shown inFigure 6. v

A pair of hinged guide tracks 20 is hingedly secured, as at 2|, justabove the trunk 22, and these guide tracks are adapted to be thrown upagainst the sides of the automobile top, as shown in dotted lines inFigure 9, and in full lines in Figure 2, while the top is in a raisedposition or is being moved to and from a raised position. Thecollapsible top is adapted to be rolled' upon a' drum '23 carried withinthe trunk 22, and when the collapsible top is rolled upon the drum 23and is entirely encased within the trunk 22,

the guide tracks 20 may be thrown down to overlie. the slot formed inthe top of the trunk 22 through which the collapsible top is adapted toextend.

A pair of spur wheels 24 is carried by a shaft 25, which shaft issupported upon a springpressed plunger 26 to normally hold the spurwheels 24 in contact with the ends ofthe slats l4, the spur wheelshaving points which fit within the notches H, as shown in detail inFigure 4. These spur wheels 24 may, therefore, move toward and away fromthe drum 23, as the slats M are rolled upon the drum 23.

A second pair of spur wheels 21 is carried by a drive shaft 28 mountednear the top of the trunk 22 and these spur wheels 21 engage the slatsadjacent the top of the trunk to facilitate the movement of thecollapsible top to and from an extended position.

I preferably provide a driving motor 29 which drives a clutch wheel 30,which clutch wheel may be moved to engage a lifting gear 3| which mesheswith a gear 32 to drive the shaft 28, the shaft 25 being driven by abelt drive 33 from .OFFICEg the shaft 28. The shaft 28 may be driven inthe opposite direction through the medium of the direct belt drive 34when the clutch wheel 31] is thrown into clutching engagement therewith.A suitable switch 35 may be provided for closing the circuit to controlthe operation of the motor 29.

I also provide a manually operating mechanism in the nature of a shaft36 driven by a removable crank 31 shown in dotted lines in Fig.- ure 3,which shaft 36 drives a shaft 38 which in turn drives the shaft 28through the medium of a belt 39. By means of this structure, theoperating mechanism may be either operated manually or electrically.placed upon the dashboard or at any other convenient location.

The switch '35 may be,

The collapsible top is preferablyformed in two sections, one sectionbeing indicated as section 14 and the other setcion being indicated assection 14 in Figure 10. The section 14 is provided with a plurality ofhook members 40 which are adapted to fit into the notches 41 formed inone of the slats of section 14 to be engaged by the spring-pressedlatches 42 to hold the sections 14 and 14 in connected relation. Theslat which carries the latches 42 is provided with an opening 43 forreceiving the rings 44, which rings may be engaged by an operator torelease the latches 42 from the hooks 4D and permit section 14 to beseparated from setcion 14, as is shown in Figure 2, preferably at apoint adjacent the rear-view window 45 so as to prevent the vision ofthe driver of the automobile from becoming obstructed.

In order to prevent, section 14 from dropping down into the trunk whenthe sections 14 and 14 are disconnected, I have provided a Sp ingpressedlatch 46 which may be mounted in any suitable or desired position forengaging theslats adjacent the ends thereof to permit the top to berolled to a position toclose the opening 1 1 and prevent the top fromreeling backward. This latch will also hold section 14 in position andprevent the same from dropping down into the rtrunk. The latch 46 may belocked in either a closedor an extended position by means of a ca-mlever 41 as is shown in Figure 12.

Pivoted wedges 48 are mounted adjacent the edges of the collapsible roof.andmay be swung from the full line position shown in Figure 10 tooverlie the edges of the collapsible roof, as shownin dotted lines inFigure 10, thereby clamping the collapsible roof in a set position toprevent vibration. These wedges may be located in any suitable ordesired position for properly engaging the roof.

From ,the vforegoing description it should be understood that thecollapsible roof comprises the slats 14 which as stated above may bepro,-

vided with an inner and outer covering and which may be easily rolled toand from an extended. position and ,due to the fact that the collapsibleroof is made in two detached sections, the sections may be separated toprevent blocking the vision of the driver of the automobile, therebypermitting him to see through the rear window 45. The two sections maybe connected when moving the collapsible roof toand from an extendedposition.

It will also be understood by considering the foregoing description anddrawings, that the collapsible roof may be moved to a position to closethe top opening 1 1, but when it is desired to render the opening 11free and unobstructed the collapsible roof may be rolled upon the drum23 within the compartment 22, thereby providing an open top vehicle.

Certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be madewithout departing from the spirit oi the invention, so long as suchchanges fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a vehicle body having a top, said top having anopening therein, a collapsibleflexible roof adapted to close the openingwhen in an extended position and render the opening free andunobstructed when the roof isin acollapsed position, a roller upon whichthe o la s b e o is a d to be ol d, a

ol ap ible v o comp i ing a r of ct on h ok m mbers car d, y o e ti n, eother section having notches into which said hook members are adapted toextend, spring plunger latchesadapted to en age the hooks o holding thesections in assembled relation and also adapted to release the hooks topermit the sect ons o be t da d mean r mo n the collapsible roof to andfrom an extended position.

2. In combination with a vehicle body having a top, said top having anopening therein, a collapsible flexible roof adapted to close the openewh n an e te ded p i ion a d render the opening free and unobstructedwhen the roof is in a collapsed position, a roller upon which thecollapsible roof is adapted to be rolled, said collapsible roofcomprising a pair of sections, hook members carried by one section, theother section having notches into which saidhook mem-- bers are adaptedto extend, spring plunger latches adapted to engage the hooks forholding the sections V in assembled relation and also adaptedto releasethe hooks to permit the sections to be separated, meansfor moving thecollapsible roof to and from an extended position, and said lastmentioned means comprising a power driven means, and a selectivelyoperated manually driven means.

3. In combination with a yehicle body having a top, said top having arear view window, said top also having an opening above the rear viewwindow, a collapsible flexible roof adapted to close the opening when inan extended position and rendering (the opening free and unobstructedwhen theroof is in a collapsed position, said collapsible roofcomprisinga pair of sections detaehably secured together and adapted to move inunison longitudinally of the top, one portion of the roof being adaptedto be collapsed at one end of the vehicle body, and means for releasablyconnecting the sections in a manner whereby one section may remain in acollapsed position within the body'and the other section may extend as aclosure for the top, the sections being spaced from each other at theiradjoining ends adjacent the rear view window of thebody.

GEORGE LIEBLER.

